Mixing machine



G. J. HICKS MIXING MACHINE Filed OCT.. 17. 1928 Feb. 4, 1930.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY g Feb. 4, 1930. G, J. Hicks 1,745,993

MIXING MACHINE Filed oct. 17. 1928 s sheets-'sheet .1 3'

ATTORNEY 'l' Pawnee" Feb. 4, 1930 suenen J; HICKS, or sAGrN'Am MICHIGAN f M IxiNG ivrAoH-NE appiicatiniea oetoberi?, lees. seriai'No, 312,941, f

, The invention relates to a machine for miX- "ing and conditioning Vmaterials, especiallyV comminuted solids and liquids, 'such' as employed-in thebaking and confectionery arts,

I :It and has-forits object v-to provdesuch ymachine with Ia mixingvtroughhaving a comf p'letelyopenedend,sealed by a closure which Aadmits of the mixed batch beingquickly and With afjfeed-screw, the 'operation of' Which f l is controlledby a clutch, thehopperfhaving v anl inlet opening' at' its bottom yconnected VV`'Witha .source ofsupply' 'of fluid, preferably in the form offa measuringV device, to regulate the amoun'tfjof lfluid directed linto the bottom y "1' lfffmoffthe hopper to minglewith'vthesolid material fed from rab'ove,"`and valvedA air pressure "supply pipes kconnectedt'o',a nozzle d irectedA I i: intofthe opening bet-Weenthe hopper and the v trough to breakfupand disperse the materialv 25 fedfrom the' hopper into the troughand also connected to the b'ottomfinlet opening'to fai cilitate the feed of the liquid upwardy into the -trough and to reduce 'saidzliquid toxa spraylike form to facilitatethe*immediate admixft'ure thereof'i'rvith the''solid material, means being provided for simultaneously'operating ther vclutch andthe valves in the'air supply pipes, the trough having a rotaryagitator therein to 'complete th`e .-miXing off-the inrv'f 351gredients, a special'arrangernentof temperatureregulating'coils or pipes beingvlocated adjacent and preferably'supported bythe cover, through Whichcoils .a heating-or cool- Ling medium may be"circ'ulated to maintain 40-the proper 'conditions of temperature or f moisture inthefmixture.. These and other features of the invention 'will `fbefV more fully `described inffthe following' specification,`

yhinof@J 1 9 and being locked in positiondoy v'which yisvpredicatedV 'on' the accompanying draw`ings, in which c v -Fig. 1. `is a side elevationof-"the apparatus.

' closed by a plate -1'1I, vvhich is secured to the VVAFig. 2 is a planlvievv thereof:

- Figz- 3 is' a transversepvertical v'section Fig. 4 is aplan-'vi'evv with the' vfeed hopper removed.r v 1 Y' "Fig is a lateral sectionalelevation. Referring to the drawings, v1 indicatesthe supporting frame of the niachine`, which is` 5 5.

preferably formed asv afcasting vvitha rearwardly base extension 2 v tofvvhich i'sjsecured the frame 3, Whichfserves as a support for a shaft "bearingVv Preferablyicast integrally rWith the frarney1 is a generally U- shapedzo 'trough 10 betWeen'jvhich and the inner'walls of the frame .is .included-a Space, adapted to be filled with asuitable insulatingpacking v 21, as more particularly illustratedin Fig.'3;

.The trough member of tliefcastingis openf 'at each jend andthe front opening, which constitutes the discharge for the contentsVV of v the trough, is provided With adoor 1,2Which .is connected to the'front yvvall ofl Vthe'; frame byhinges 13, so that the doormay'be swung! 7 9- f to completely open the end of the trough; so f that the contents offthelatter kmay lc' e` dis,v

charged. Thevdoor 12 -is provided withal s eyriesoflatclies 141 mounted en pivot pir1's l14 V the upper latch being provided with ahandlef-75 1'5`and Vhe 'several vlatchesbeingconnected by a bar 1 6, so that vall of the latches Will be ,operated simultaneously@ The ends vof the latches are'adapted ltobe ymoved into andfout of engagement With the keeper bar 17 mount- 80, y 'ed onthe front face' ofthe frame 1,`the latches cooperatingy With'the door tforce the door into a tightly Vclosed position", the `innerface of the door being provided' with a' groove adjacent the peripheral outer edges thereof'to 8,5' receive ap'acking stripQO, which abutsfthe adjacent edges of 'thetrough and serves' to lseal the joint between lthe door and the trough against leakage,

The do0`r'1f2 is provided With va sightopen- 50 ing, whichis normally closed by ade'adlightV l8havinga transparent centralv portion, said' deadlight being connectedto .the doorvby ya thezilsualbolt 19.' #The rear open'end'of the trough 10I is frame casting by bolts` or other suitable means to lprovide a substantially fluid tights,

platell has formed thereon a hollow boss 40, which affords a passage for the shaft carrying the agitator or stirrer, and adjacent the l opening there is formed on the plate 11 a shelf 42 upon which is mounted a journal bearing 4l for the shaft.

The open top of the trough is closed by a top section or cover 2l, which is provided with 'a central opening 22. Secured to the top face of the cover is a supply hopper 23 having a tubular extension 24, the bottom of which registerswith the opening 22 in the cover. Mounted in the hopper and the tubular extension thereof is a feed screw 25 to the outer end of which is loosely journalled a driving pulley or gear member 27 which is adapted to be Connected toV the shaft in operative'relation byV coordinate clutch members 28 and 29. Pivotedin the tubular extension 24 of the hopper is a iiap valve 26,

p which ismoved by the material advanced by the feed screw to permitsaid material to drop through the opening k22 in Hthe cover and thence into the trough. lvfounted inthe tubular extension 24'of the hopper is a nozzleA 58, so positioned as to direct a jet of air downwardlyY and laterally in the throat of the opening connecting the hopper with the troughso as to breakup vand distribute the material fred from the hopper to the trough in order'to facilitate the mixture of the material with the water orother fluid supplied to the trough, as will be hereinafter explained.

Mounted in a suitablehousing 30, pref- `erably connected to the under face of the cover, is a system of piping 3l, preferably arrangedin zigzagerder with its inletI and discharge ends extending .through the krear end closure of the trough'. T his pipe system or manifold is' adapted to be connected to a source of supply of either a heating or cooling medium by means of which the temperature and the humidity of the contents of the mixture may be accurately regulated, the heating or cooling medium being continuously circulated through the piping and the heating or drying effects being transmitteddirectly to the contents of the trough by radiation and convection. i

Journalled in bearings 4l and 41 carried by the rear closure of the trough and the frame 3, respectively, is a shaft 43 which carries a rotary stirrer or agitator comprising cross arms 44 and 45, which are preferably curved longitudinally and extend to a pointV adjacent the door l2, the longer portions 44 of the stirrer being so disposed as to sweep lin close proximityto the curved bottom of the trough, while the shorter arms 45 move Vin a' smallerl circle, so that the entire mass of the materials in the trough is thoroughly agitated. Fixed to the shaft 43 is a ydriving ,gear 46'which meshes with. apinion 47 fastl Y piping V52 with. the jet nozzle 58 and.V also `by a branch pipe 54v with a housing 63 covering an opening in thebottom of the trough. rlhe pipes 52 and 54 are provided with valves f53 and 55, respectively, for controlling the connection between the air pressure-supply and the trough.

The opening 60 in the bottom of the trough is designed to lsupply the Huid ingredients of the mixture to the trough in a manner best calculated toeffect the intimate admixture and incorporation of the ingredients, for which. purpose the opening is provided with aplat'e 6lhaving a series of outwardly inA clined openings therein,kv so that the liquid will be forced into the trough in the form of jets or sprays, where it will meet the4 comminuted material delivered from the hopper. The opening 60 is provided with a valve seat with which cooperates a check valve 62, which prevents the back flow ofvany of the materialsfrom the trough. i Y

Preferably, the uid portion ofthe materials to be mixed is supplied to the trough through the bottom opening therein from a measuring device,such as a tank 80, provided with a glazed'sight openingwith an appropriate scale marking,as indicated at 8l, so that the exact amount of liquid-to be added to the mixture may be accurately measured and predetermined.` In the event that a Y combination of iiuid ingredients is to be employed, the measuring apparatus may be provided with a suitablestirrer, such as 82, which will thoroughly admix the liquids before the 1 same are delivered to the trough. The bottom of the measuring device 80 is connected to the housing 63 surrounding the bottom opening of. the trough by an extension of the air presi' Y sure pipe 54, the branches offsaid pipe'54 being provided with checkvalves 56" and57 to prevent back iiow. It will be seen, therefore, that the liquid constituent is delivered to the trough from the measuring device 80 underl air pressure delivered from the tank 50, so that said liquid constituent will be sprayed through the jet openings in theplate 6l in the bottom of the tank and will immediately comminglevin a more or less atomized form with the solid material delivered intov the trough from'above. i

For the bestV results, it is desirable that the feed of the constituents of the'mixture from the hopper 23 and from-the liquid measuringl device be concurrent and, to this end, the

` cated, the movable clutch member is connected by a link 71 to afbell crank70 pivotedto the' cover 21, the oppositeend of the'bell 'Y crank 7 O being connected by a link- 72V with y'15a link 7 3, which, in'- turn,lis connected at its opposite ends to the vractuating levers 7 4: andA 75 connected to tlievalves 53 and 55, respec-v 1 tively, 'so that, when the clutch members are* engaged .by movingthis link and lever meclianism,` the. valves '53 and 55 are opened and, conversely, when the clutch is disconnected, Y e

. means forA feeding materialginto the trough .-rom l above, means for simultaneously supplying liquid to the trough from below, and a ,Compressed air supply connected Awith the; liquid supply for spraying the liquidupward j .into ,the trough f said valves are closed.

yThe operation of the'apparatus isas follows: The solid materiaL-usuallyin comminuted form, is'fed to the hopper'23 in regulated quantities vand the proper proportion of the liquid constituent ofl the mixture to be aiected in the troughy is supplied to the measuring device 80. The stirrer or agitator in the trough is driven by the electric motor 48 and the` lever and link mechanism is actuated to engage Lthe clutch members 28 and 29, soy that the feed screw will v be loperated to i *valves 53 and 55 are opened by themechanism which eects .the `engagement vof the clutch members and airgunder pressure is delivered to the tank through Vpiping 52 breaking up the solid material and dispersing the 'same intoamore or less cloud-like A'form l ,inV the trough. At the Y same. time, the air under-pressure is delivered by pipe 54 to the bottom opening in the trough and entrains vthe liquid from the measuring device .80 and forces the vsame under considerable pressure clined' openings in the platel, as herein- V before described,`so that the liquid content.. ofthe mixture is reduced'to a generally atomized'condition, as it is forced upward in the =ftrough,iwhere it meets the descending disseminated elements of the fsoliol constituent, whereby immediate-union or incorporation of the ingredients'is eiected, the final mixing and homogenizing being brought about yby the .rotary stirrer Vor agitator'. After the.

mixturehas been`eiected,the door'12 is e opened andthe lentiren'iass ofthe mixture isv immediately'freed.from the hopper through the open or unobstructed end of the trough.

i within the trough during the mixing operation, and particularly for the purpose of avoiding over-pressure therein, I provide i outlets90, `in the rear endv wall 11'of the l trough,- wh'ich openings, as hereshown, open into the opposite ends of a U-shaped pipe 91 whichis attached tothe outer side of said wall and provided with. a vertically ranging deliver the solid material from the hopper to the nozzle 58, where'it hasthe eec't of v5.. A mixingmachinecomprising asubstan- 'y pastthe check valve 62 yand thiough'the in- As a'means for regulating the air pressure Vlieved :by Ydischarge", throughthe upper end of tlfie'y pipe. extension 92,.the Vcap* 93 readilyY :liftingunderpressure to'permit this.

' lVhatIclaimis: 1 .11.v Ay mixing machine comprising a trough,

means for feeding materials? into the trough from above, means o'r'supplying liquid to the trough trom-below,v and acoinpressed airsupplyconnectedvvith j theliquid 4supply for spraying the liquid'upward into the trough.

2. -A mixing'machinej comprising a, trough,

Afniixinodeviceicomprising a trough, a

air supply connected with lthezliquid supply trough.'

- g4.; A mixing device comprising a trough,a

ing vcheck 'valve' in said inlet, and afcompressed .airSiliplvfwnnte@with the liquid supply for. Spraying thellqufl 'upward into' 1 feedhopper above thesame, a liquid inlet at. the bottom of the trough, an inwardly :openvfor s'prayingfthe liquid `upwardginto .the

tially U-shap'edftrough; having one-fend 'com- `pletely open za discharge 'door closing the vOpening end-of saidtrough, and a` rotary agi# tator" jou rnalled in" theoppositeend of said'y `troughfy. W 6. Am

opening-therein, a transparent. closure yfor andV a lrotary agitator V 8. A mixing machinecomprising a trough,

.a rotary agitator therein, a cover" for saidtrough, means for feeding material through the cover, and temperature'regulatingcircujournalled in theopp'o-j Ysitefend oisaidtrough. y l

ico e ixing machine comprisinga substantially- U-shaped trough having one 'end. comy' pletely; open, ardischarge doorclosing the Y Y.open ,end off .said troughtand having a' sight i.

,said-sight opening, and a rotary agitator ournailed in theiopposite end' of said trough. j

, 7. A mixingfmachine comprising a 'sub-iv st antially VU-'shaped trough havingv one' end coinpletelyQo-pen, a dischargedoor closing the' open end-of saidtrough and having a-sight opening therein, al `hingedfclosure for said jsightopjening having atransparent section,

9. A mixing machine comprising a trough,

a rotary agitator'v therein, a cover lfor said trough, means for feeding material through .'125 the cover, temperature regulating circulation coils adjacent vthe under face of the cover, `and `a fluid inletiat thebottom of the trough.

10. A mixing machinecomprising asubstantially U-shaped trough, al rotary agitatortherein, a coverV for said trough, a hopper on said cover,a feed screw in said'hopper,"a nozzl-e for directing an air jet'i'nto the discharge opening of the hopper, a fluid inlet in the bottom of the trough, and a uid measuring deviceconnected to said inlet.

11. A mix-ing machine comprisingl a substantially U-shaped trough, a rotary agitator therein, a cover for said trough, a hopper on said cover, a feed screw in said hopper, a nozzle for directing anair jet into the discharge opening'of the hopper, a iiuid inletY in the bottom of the trough, a fluid measuring device connected to'said' inlet, and a source of air underpressure connected to said nozzle and said fluid inlet.

12. A mixing machine comprisingY a substantially Usshaped trough, a rotary agitator therein, a cover for said trough, a.v hopper on said cover, a feed screw in said hopper, a clutch for connecting said feed screw to its driving means, a nozzle for directingl an air jet into the discharge opening of thehopper, a source of air under pressure connected to said nozzle, and means for simultaneously controlling the clutch and air supply to said nozzle. Y v

13. A mixing machine comprising a substantially U-shaped. trough, a rotary agitator therein, a cover for said trough, a hopper on said cover, a feed screw in said hopper, a clutch for connecting` said feed screw toits driving means, a nozzle for directing an air jet into the discharge opening of the hopper, a

valved airpressure supply pipe connected to said nozzle, and lever connections between the clutchvand the air valve to operate said elements simultaneously. f v

141. A mixing machine comprising a suhstantially Ushaped trough, a rotary agitator therein, a cove-r for said trough, a hopper on Y said cover, a feed screw in said hopper, a

measuring device clutch for connecting said fed screw to its driving'means, a nozzle for directing anv air jet into the discharge opening of th-e hopper, a

fluid inlet in the bottom ofthe trough, a. iiud connected to said inlet, valved' air pressure supply pipes connectedV to said nozzle and to the bottom fluid inlet, and

link andi lever connections between the clutch and the air supply valves to operate said elements simultaneously. y Y

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' GEORGE J. HICKS. 

